I need a productive discussion!

Online Challenges

The ideal of the Internet was that it would bring people together. But in large scale, we don't see that. In face to face, moderated discussions people are able to discuss the issues, and come understanding each other. Why not online?

Impostors

Trolls

Sensationalism

Negativity

Like minded groups

Impersonal

Misunderstanding

Getting Nowhere

Polarization

Low turnout

The Ideal

What are we hoping will happen when everyone can get together on the Internet and have a productive discussion?

Huge participation, if not everyone

Amazing Solutions

Overwhelming support for action

Real understanding of each other and the issues

Timely Results

Mission

Build the tools that empower large numbers of people to assemble online to have productive conversations about difficult topics that lead to amazing solutions with overwhelming support.

Develop new features, measure what works, collect feedback, learn, repeat. If it's not a productive discussion, we're not done yet.

Overcoming Challenges

Yes! There are challenges to getting diverse, polarized people together online and productively working towards solutions. Here are some of the tools to solve them.

Validate identity

Request relevant demographics

Identify stake

Structure discussions

Distribute participants into small diverse teams

Enable quantitative and qualitative feedback

Vote up the best

Give every voice fair consideration

Keep participation demographically balanced

Keep it civil

Make it fun

Get personal

Where we can help

Online deliberative discussions overcome some of the challenges of in-person meetings by allowing people to participate remotely, at different times, and at much less cost for both the participant and organizer. Online deliberative discussions can be useful in many situations, such as:

People with each other

Neighbors with their local government

Representatives and their constituents

Members in their unions

People and their parties

Causes and their advocates

Democratically run Organizations

Welcome to Synaccord

The tools that bring out the real synergy in people to find life's accords.